The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-03-05
THE BABY BABOON.

Balloons are almost the ugliest of the
monkeys to look at. They have dog
shaped heads, with eyes deep-set and
close together, and their faces have
ridges and swellings and queer colors, so
that they are really h'deous to our no.
tions.
But in spite of their looks, they are
most interesting animals because they
are so fond of each other, and SO amia-
BILE and full of fun in babyhood. Dread
full looking old fellows, that look as if
they could easily eat up baby, are ex-
tremely fond of the little ones, and as
tender and careful as any human nurse.
Some droll stories are told of baboon
babies in menageries. In one place
there were two mothers with infants, and
the others of the tribe when allowed to
go in the cage occupied as nursery,
gathered about the mothers, put their
arms fondly around them, and begged
by their actions to hold the baby little.
The mothers allowed them to do SO, and
the little ones were passed around among
the visitors, each one holding baby a
few minutes carefully, and then passing
it on. At last, after every one had taken
the child, it was given back to its mamma.
Such performance among animals is
very extraordinary, you know.
Another one that was in menRgerie
in Paris was in cage alone with its
mamma, and when about eight days old
papa was allowed to go in, to make call.
He embraced mamma and the baby, and
then sat down by her and took the little
one in his arms. Pretty soon the rest of
the baboon family were introduced to the
interesting cage to call on the infant,
which they had been wild to do.
Each one wanted to take it, of course,
but this mother was not so obliging or SO
trusting perhaps. She would not let
any one touch it, and if urged she gave
the teaser slap. They all sat around
her and moved their lips as though talk
ing.
The baboon baby out of menagerie
has probably better time. He sleeps
in den in the rocks, rides on his moth
er's back, and eats berries and fruit and
roots, besides insects. Nothing is fun
nier than to see a party of these wild
youngsters at play. They are specially
fond. of sliding down hill (Which shows
they know what is sport doesn't it,
boys?) They select nice grassy place and
down they go, sliding and rolling over and
over like great balls of fur, chatteriag
and carrying on like party of children.
They run about ON all tours on the
ground, and if in a hurry they gallop, but
they are not often seen on trees.
The little baboon is a jolly fellow, al
ways full of pranks and jokes, such as
slyly pulling the tail of some dignifed
old fellow. But this performance turns
out not so funny if he gets caught, for
pinch or bite is the pay he gets. Like
other little folk, the baboon baby some
times loses his temper, and the way he
takes 70 show his anger and to threaten
the enemy are very strange. He opens
his mouth wide as if yawning, or he
pounds his fist on the ground as you have
seen a naughty child do
As they grow old, like many other ami
mails, and especially monkeys, they grow
more savage and cross, and of course are
not 80 interesting. But they are very
cunning. They go in large parties to-
gether and often visit the crops of the
farmer. When they do this, they keep
watchers on the lookout, and, though